Indicator



n. E.' MCMAHAN..

INDICATOH.

APPLICATION FILEIJ IAN. 6. IBIS.

1,303,699. Patented May13,1919.

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BGBERT PARK MOIVIAHAN, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application led. January 6, 1919. Serial No. 269,913.

T0 all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT PARK MoMA- HAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Indicators,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an indicator and more particularly to anindicator to be used on vehicles whereby a party may have visibleindications as to whom the vehicle belongs, its number, and other datathat may be advisable to know about the vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide simple means normally inactivebut rendered active upon looking into the interior of the device forilluminating and displaying the data relating to the vehicle.

With these and other objects in View the invention will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinalsectional view through the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the card and its holder.

Again referring to the drawing illustrating one form that my inventionmay assume, the numeral 1 designates a casing having a lateral extension2 forming a sight passage 3. Arranged within the casing at one end ofthe sight passage 3 is a simplied form of card holder 4f, the card 5supported thereby having printed thereon any data found necessary to bedisplayed. For instance, if the device is used on automobiles this cardmay have marked thereon, the following John Doe; Engine No. 81356;License No. Penna. 67814-59.

Of course it is to be understood that the card 5 may display anyinformation found necessary.` The remaining end of the passage 3 isnormally closed by a coveror door 6 pivotally mounted as indicated at 7and held closed by the weighted arm 8. By applying pressure to the armor finger piece 8, the door 6 may be thrown to open position and when inopen position I have arranged -an electric circuit adapted to beenergized automatically upon the door reaching its fully open position.

The illuminating means shown in the drawing consist of a bulb 9 arrangedwithin the casing preferably directly behind the card 5 and` is arrangedin a circuit 10 which may include the generator 11 of the vehicle andhas one terminal grounded on the casing as indicated at 12 and the otherend connected to a contact 13 insulated from the casing in the path ofmovement of the door 6.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing it will be seen that a person by operating the arm 8 may throwthe door 6 to open position and through its engagement with the contact13 automatically illuminate the bulb 9 so that the data on the card 5may be clearly viewed through the passage 3.

It is of course to be understood that the apparatus may be constructedin various other manners than shown and may be permanently attached tothe vehicle in any manner found suitable and besides if foundadvantageous in practice the rear wall l of the casing may be hinged tothe casing and locked thereto by a suitable padlock 15, so thatdifferent cards may be placed within the holder 4.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An indicator comprising a casing having a laterally extending sightpassage, a display card arranged within the casing at one end of thesight passage, a door normally closing the other vend of the sightpassage and electric means rendered active upon opening of said door toview said card. An indicator comprising a casing having a lateralextension forming a sight passage, a display card mounted within thecasing at one end of said passage, illuminating means for the casingincluding a contact arranged adjacent the other end of the passage and anormally closedcover for the last mentioned end of the passage arrangedwith relation to said contact so that the latter will be engaged whenthe cover is thrown to open position for rendering the illuminatingmeans active.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT PARK MGMAHAN.

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for vc cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Intente,

Washington, D. G. i

